One Killed in Downtown LA fire
Los Angeles, CA – A fire in a Downtown Los Angeles apartment building on Tuesday, September 16, 2025, resulted in one fatality. The blaze broke out at approximately 2:02 a.m. at 112 W. 5th Street, a 12-story residential high-rise.
The Los Angeles City Fire Department (LAFD) responded to reports of smoke emanating from a seventh-floor corner unit.Due to the challenges inherent in high-rise fires – requiring firefighters to carry equipment up stairwells – the incident was quickly designated a Major Emergency.
Upon arrival, crews found the unit heavily cluttered with stored items, hindering access to the fire’s origin. Firefighters worked to contain the flames while navigating the debris. Under the direction of Assistant Chief Paul Pham, over 100 LAFD personnel achieved official knockdown of the fire within 50 minutes, successfully preventing its spread to neighboring apartments. No firefighters were injured during the operation.
Despite their efforts, one individual was discovered deceased inside the affected unit and pronounced dead at the scene. Firefighters also rescued a cat from near the fire and provided medical attention. The animal was subsequently turned over to Los Angeles Animal Services and is reported to be in stable condition.
The Los angeles Department of Building and Safety has ‘yellow-tagged’ the fire unit and one adjacent, vacant unit, restricting access. the remainder of the building has been cleared for re-occupancy.
The LAFD Arson and Counter-Terrorism Section (ACTS) is investigating the cause of the fire,standard procedure following a fire-related death.
